Dietary Supplementation With L-Glutamine Enhances Immunity and Reduces Heat Stress in Hanwoo Steers Under Heat Stress Conditions
TLDR Adding L-glutamine to the diet of Hanwoo steers may boost their immune system and help them cope with heat.
The study examined the impact of 0.5% L-glutamine (Gln) supplementation on the immunity and heat stress response of Hanwoo steers. Over a 9-week period, the study found that Gln supplementation tended to increase white blood cell counts, including lymphocytes and granulocytes, suggesting enhanced immunity. However, it did not significantly affect growth performance or gene expression related to muscle and fat tissue development. Notably, Gln supplementation reduced the expression of heat shock proteins HSP70 and HSP90 in hair follicles, indicating a potential reduction in heat stress. The study, involving 8 steers divided into control and treatment groups, concludes that while Gln may improve immune response and reduce heat stress, it does not impact growth performance, and further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore the effects of different supplementation levels.
